Pixio PX277: 144Hz 27-inch 1440p FreeSync IPS Gaming Monitor

July 19, 2016September 5, 2016by Dan Hamilton

The Pixio PX277 is a newly released 144Hz monitor made by the up-and-coming brand named Pixio. Developed by the Korean-American company Patchworks, the brand hopes to bring more quality monitors at an affordable price by limiting middlemen and overhead costs. The monitor includes a 144Hz refresh rate, an IPS panel, FreeSync technology, and a 1440p resolution.

Features

The Pixio PX277 uses an IPS Panel and it’s the same one that the much more expensive Acer XG270HU and ASUS MG279Q use. An IPS panel allows for far better color production and viewing angles than traditional TN panels, but at the cost of a slightly higher response time, typically 1ms vs 4ms. There are some misconceptions floating around that because the price is this low that the monitors must be utilizing B-grade or refurbished parts. This is simply not the case. From our research on the matter, we found that they are capable of keeping the price at such a level because Pixio passes the savings of having no middlemen and smaller marketing overhead on to you.

The gaming monitor includes AMD’s FreeSync technology. This means that if you’ve got a compatible AMD card then when your gaming on the Pixio PX277 you won’t experience any stuttering or screen tearing because the monitor’s refresh rate will be automatically synchronized to your graphics card’s frame rate. The FreeSync range is 55Hz to 144Hz, but if you do dip below that range you’ll still be covered by Low Framerate Compensation so no worries there.

The monitor has a 2560 x 1440 or 1440p resolution display which when combined with its size means it has a great pixel density of 109 pixel per inch. A higher resolution will strain your graphics card more than the 1080p resolution that you may be used to so beware of that. On the other hand, you’ll have better image quality while browsing, gaming, or watching shows. It took a little time on our part with fiddling in the settings to find the right adjustments to suit our preferences.

Design

Judging from official product images we initially expected a distractingly large bright red logo to dominate the monitor frame, but to our surprise, the logo is fairly modest and more of a darker burgundy color. Still immediately noticeable though is the very large bezel that can admittedly be an eye sore. One thing is clear you won’t be buying the monitor for the looks. If you’re looking for multi-monitor setup then this isn’t one that’s suitable for the job.

The way the stand is constructed only allows for the tilt to be adjusted and you cannot change the height or swivel. The settings buttons are situated in the lower right side of the monitor and we noticed that when fiddling with the monitor settings the stand can wobble. Luckily however it is VESA compatible meaning that with a third party arm mount you can fully customize its positioning to your liking. The buttons themselves are rather clunky. They get the job done, but given that there are seven of them it is easy at times to get lost and forget which does what. They are marked with a light gray font though this is difficult to read when in a low lit or dark room.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, the Pixio PX277 has a wide range of options that can be used. It has two HDMI inputs, one Display Port, one mini-DisplayPort, and one DVI input. The monitor includes a DisplayPort cable, an audio cable, and a wall plug. Also included is an external power supply which can at times get hot.

Verdict

The Pixio PX277 offers great bang for the buck. It is the cheapest IPS equipped 27-inch monitor out there and easily competes with monitors priced 1.5 times more. What you lose you in aesthetics you more than makeup for in internal specs. If your priority is getting a 144Hz monitor with an IPS panel and looks aren’t that big of a concern then this is the one to get.